May 2022 Newsletter
Visit Our AAPI website for upcoming events, professional development panels, academic resources, and more!
Reflections on Asian American Pacific Islander History Month – Make Us Visible
-by Debbie Wei, Social Studies Curriculum Specialist, Office of Curriculum and Instruction
Some people call this Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month. But I call it Asian American Pacific Islander History Month because history matters. There is a long history of Asians in America (the first documented arrivals on the continental U.S. were a group of Filipinos in 1587 in what is now Morro Bay, California.) And yet, the history of Asian America remains largely invisible. Without knowledge of history in this country, Asian Americans are often seen as not really American – relegated to the role of perpetual foreigner. Continue reading.
Check out this film on Philadelphia’s Chinatown Community
Look Forward and Carry on the Past: Stories from Philadelphia’s Chinatown
Film by: Barry Dornfeld, Debora Kodish, and Debbie Wei
Look Forward and Carry on the Past: Stories from Philadelphia’s Chinatown illustrates the strength and complexity of Philadelphia’s only remaining community of color in the city’s center. Click here for more information.
May Events & Happenings
May is: ALS Awareness Month, Haitian Heritage Month, Indian Heritage Month, Jewish-American Heritage Month, Mental Health Month, National Asian American and South Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Older Americans Month, South Asian American Heritage Month
This month there are a variety of events happening both at the District and in the city at large. For a complete list of events, visit the AAPI Heritage Month Page.
May Event Highlights
Tuesday, May 24th, 5:30pm-6:30pm |
WHYY and DEI Present: AAPI Heritage Month
The Office of DEI is continuing its partnership with WHYY to bring you screenings of WHYY and PBS programming that is not always available to the general public. This month in honor of AAPI Heritage, we will be screening programs from their catalog. More information coming soon, join the DEI mailing list for updates.
Saturdays & Sundays 10AM-6PM
The Southeast Asian Market In FDR Park
The Southeast Asian Market in FDR Park is a community of refugees and immigrant members who have called (FDR) Park their home since the 1980s. For 35+ years they have cultivated an open community space all their own, providing a cultural hub for social gatherings, sharing of ethnic cuisines, and business opportunities through vending. Learn more on their website.
May Spotlights
Student Spotlight: Yanhui Wu, Carver High School of Engineering and Science
Yanhui Wu (Yani) is a junior at Carver High School of Engineering and Science and a member of Carver’s Asian Student Alliance. Yani is creative, reliable, and a community builder. Yani’s friendly presence brings a sense of positivity to each club meeting and bridges the gap between our club members who range from 7th to 12 grades. Yani has led various events and initiatives this year including student-made videos about Lunar New Year, a video about immigrant backgrounds, and a school-wide raffle contest. Her leadership has truly shaped the Carver ASA this year.
Gapura Philadelphia Indonesian American Community Center Grand Opening Saturday, May 14th.
Gapura Philadelphia is a new community center opening up this month. The mission of Gapura is to honor traditions, empower the community, and discover dreams within and through the Indonesian-American community in Philadelphia. Click here for more information.
DEI Office Updates
Listen to the latest episodes of Equity Is:
New Podcast Segment: Ask the DEI Office your Equity Questions
Are there areas around diversity, equity, and inclusion that you have? Submit your questions anonymously to have them answered on our next podcast!
May 12, 2022 from 4:30pm – 5:30pm | Equity Coalition Virtual Town Hall
The town hall, “Equity Wins: A Year in Review of the Equity Coalition” will highlight equity wins throughout our District as well as feature the work of the Steering Committee from the 2021-22 school year.
In Case You Missed It
Highlighting Student Diversity
Last month was “Celebrate Diversity” Month. In honor of the month schools submitted pictures, videos, and posters to highlight what makes them special. From cultural dances, to students expressing the importance of Deaf Culture there is plenty of diversity to highlight here at the district. View the full gallery on the “Celebrate Diversity” Month page.
SDP Cultural Playlist
In honor of “Celebrate Diversity” Month the Office of DEI asked SDP staff to submit songs to submit songs that are important to them, and their culture. We are excited to share out Cultural Playlist with you all. If you still want to submit, fill out the form below. The full list can be found on our DEI Youtube Channel.
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